A warm welcome to our latest edition.

It has been a term of celebration here at Wyvern College, culminating in our first ever Sports and House Games Day on 15th July - which saw the House Cup awarded for the first time.

We have also seen the culmination of hard work for good causes and in the performing arts.

Wyvern students have also been out into the wider world, enjoying some exciting opportunities beyond school. 

Celebrating@Wyvern

It has been a term of celebration here at the college. We have been holding praise events to recognise the achievements of students throughout the school.

Year 9 District Basketball Final

This game was against Wildern School and took place at Solent Kestrels on Wednesday, 7th May. The boys put in a great performance against a strong side in the district final. There were moments when it looked like it could have gone either way, with Wyvern scoring the first points and keeping it close. At one stage, the score was tied at 20-20, but towards the end of the second quarter, Wildern pulled away with a six-point lead.

The final score was 53-41 to Wildern, but it was a great experience for the boys, and we look forward to seeing how they get on next year.

Well done to Jacob, Jasper, Harry, Preston, Xande, Dan, Bryce, Rory, George, Joe and Mr Kimber.

Celebration Feasts

One of the most popular ways to celebrate the achievements of our students is to get them together over a special meal. We have had Praise Breakfasts, Afternoon Teas and Picnics in many of our departments — including our gardening club, maths prefects, and Year 8 assembly team.

Our celebration assemblies took place in the last week of term and gave all our year groups the opportunity to look back on the year and reflect on the good things that have happened. We even held a Bastille Day tea — magnifique!

Bronze Arts Award

We had a breakfast for Year 9 and 10 students who have all completed their Bronze Arts Award.

This course involved exploring the arts as both creators and audience members, and developing leadership skills by sharing their learning with others. All students developed practical skills in their chosen art form — music, dance, or drama — and performed individually as well as part of a group.

As well as performing, students attended and reviewed a live arts event and presented to the class about their arts inspiration.

The final unit of the course involved students teaching others. Year 9 students taught instrumental skills to a fellow student. Year 10 students led a performing arts workshop for Year 5 pupils from Fair Oak Juniors, teaching songs, movement, and acting skills, culminating in a ‘School of Rock’ performance.

All students completed an arts portfolio detailing their planning, research, and the skills they learnt during their performing arts journey. Throughout the course, we observed them flourish in confidence and creativity, and it was a pleasure to see how much they achieved.

Well done to:

Year 9: Amber, Caleb, Poppy, Kieran, Summer, Lois, Lola, Ethan, Florence, Danny, Sophia, Maddie-Smith

Year 10: Adam, Alfie, Eloise, Emily, Isabel, Maia, Mia, Pippa, Rory, Susannah

Maths Winners

The Maths Department would like to congratulate all the students who participated in the UKMT Maths Challenge, with special mention to the following students who were awarded a Gold certificate:

Year 7: Milo, Fin, Leon
Year 8: Jake, Adam, Michalis
Year 9: Emily
Year 10: Holly Lucas

A huge congratulations to Milo, Fin, Leon, Jake, Emily, and Holly, who all took part in the follow-on round and earned Bronze, Silver, or Gold certificates for their outstanding efforts. This is an amazing accomplishment and a true testament to their hard work and talent — well done!

Congratulations also to Fletcher for completing the University of Southampton Maths Challenge and achieving an Award of Merit.

Super work everyone.

Athletics Championships

Thursday, 19th June saw the first Schools Athletics Championships take place at its new venue, Winchester Athletics Stadium — and both the weather and our students rose to the occasion.

Wyvern fielded a squad of 49 athletes across Years 7 to 10, competing in temperatures close to 28°C. All of our students competed with PRIDE, resilience, and determination and were a credit to themselves and Wyvern. Despite the heat, we saw many personal bests and several students reaching finals.

Special mentions go to:

Alyssa – 4th, Year 7 Girls’ 600m (2:02), narrowly missing the school record by 2 seconds (held since 2006)
Siena – 4th, Year 7 Girls’ Long Jump (3.78m)
Lyra – 4th in two events, Year 8 Girls’ 1500m (5:26) and Long Jump (4.07m)
Tilly – 3rd, Year 9/10 Girls’ Discus (18.10m)
Amy – 4th, Year 9/10 Girls’ High Jump (1.35m)
Ollie – 4th, Year 8 Boys’ 300m (46.7 seconds)
Jack – 4th, Year 8 Boys’ 1500m (5:10)
Erwan – 3rd, Year 8 Boys’ High Jump
Dan – 2nd, Year 9/10 Boys’ Long Jump (5.58m)
Following his excellent 3rd place, Erwan was selected for the Eastleigh and Winchester Athletics Team for the U14 Boys’ High Jump and finished 7th in a county-wide competition featuring athletes from all over Hampshire.

Following on from the senior’s district trials at Winchester Bar End Athletics Stadium on Monday the 12th May Aeryn (300m) and Reuben (Pole Vault) were selected to represent the Eastleigh and Winchester District Team at the County Championships in Portsmouth. A great performance from them both.

Hampshire Book Awards

This year Wyvern was delighted to act as a voting venue for the prestigious Hampshire Book Awards, which celebrate the very best new young adult literature. Organised by the Hampshire Schools Library Service, the competition sees a shortlist of six books read by Year 9 students across the county. They then gather at venues across the area to discuss the books and vote for the ultimate winner.

Wyvern welcomed seven other schools, where students first discussed the shortlist, cast their votes, and then enjoyed book quizzes before the results were declared simultaneously across all venues.

The winner this year was Smoke & Mirrors by Barry Jonsberg.

Celebrating Our Year 10 and 11 Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Achievers

We are thrilled to announce that a group of dedicated Year 10 and 11 students have successfully completed their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Award. This prestigious achievement is a testament to their hard work, perseverance, and commitment to personal development.

Last summer term, these students embarked on their adventurous expedition, demonstrating teamwork, resilience, and a spirit of adventure. They navigated challenging terrains, camped under the stars, and honed their outdoor skills. This experience not only tested their physical endurance but also fostered camaraderie and independence.

Following their expedition, each student diligently completed the individual award sections: Skills, Physical, and Volunteering.

We are incredibly proud of Millie, Sam, Lily, Evie, Florence, Isobel, Eva, Lola, Hayden, and Grace. Their journey through the Bronze DofE Award has equipped them with valuable life skills and unforgettable memories. We look forward to seeing them continue to grow and succeed in their future endeavours.

Gymnastics For All Day

July 13th dawned another hot day as Wyvern Gymnastics prepared to host their 6th annual Gymnastics for All (GfA) competition in the sports hall at Wyvern College. 70 children had registered to take part, including some from our friends at C&M Gymnastics, who had travelled down for the day, bringing their parents and families to watch them perform their best. Competing in age groups on three pieces of apparatus (floor, vault and trampette), the gymnasts showed to everyone that their hard work in training had paid off and many were awarded medals for their efforts at the end of the day, not letting the heat get to them. The refreshments stall, which was run voluntarily by a couple of parent and grandparent helpers, was well used and kept everyone hydrated. 

The day was ended with displays performed by the gymnasts, starting with a DMT collaboration of all our advanced gymnasts. This was followed by our beginner and improver classes routines, our Saturday advanced were next, then our guests from C&M provided a spectacular routine to 'Copacabana' with their gymnast Lola being the centre of attention. The day was ended with a brilliant routine from our newly formed Wednesday advanced group, who have only been working together for a term.

We would like to thank all the parents and families who have supported us throughout this year and those who came along on a hot Sunday to cheer their children on, including our friends from C&M. All funds raised at the competition will now be invested into new equipment for the children to use in their classes.

The First Ever Wyvern Award Evenings

We’re incredibly proud to have held a landmark moment in Wyvern’s journey: our very first Wyvern Awards Evenings, recognising the outstanding achievement, effort, and contribution of our students in Years 7 to 10.

Over 170 students were nominated by their teachers for going above and beyond in subjects across the curriculum — and for demonstrating the values at the heart of our school community: Think, Grow, Care. All winners received a specially commissioned Wyvern Awards medal as a symbol of their achievement and a keepsake to mark their success.

These evenings were not just about academic excellence — they celebrated kindness, resilience, creativity, community spirit, and all the qualities that make Wyvern students so special.

We are so proud of all the students nominated and of the incredible effort, talent, and character they represent.

Prom 2025

Our second largest celebration event took place on 26th June when we said goodbye to our Year 11 students during a morning assembly, followed by their spectacular Prom in the evening at Botley Grange Hotel.

As usual, we saw an array of beautiful dresses, sharp suits, and amazing ‘carriages’ — which this year included motorbikes, campervans, supercars, tractors, celebrity cars, fire engines, horses, and actual horse-drawn carriages.

We look forward to seeing many of the students back on Results Day and wish them all the very best on their onward journeys… in whatever mode of transport they choose!

Paultons Park Praise Event

In terms of numbers, Prom was beaten for the first time this year by the Paultons Park Praise Trips, which took place the week before. Over half of our students qualified for this wonderful day out by meeting the criteria set earlier in the year, which required that by the summer half-term, they had:

• No unauthorised absences
• 97% or higher punctuality to lessons
• No truancy
• No more than three C3 sanctions
• No C4 sanctions
• An average PRIDE score of 7 or higher in the summer term PRIDE reports (out of 10 this year)

Over two days, we took 552 students to the park, and a brilliant time was had by all!

Caring@Wyvern

Our students and staff always look to support each other and members of our community. In turn, we are also fortunate to receive support from others. Here are just a few examples of what’s been happening this summer.

History Club VE Project

Our History Club embarked on a major project for VE Day, putting together a display in the Fountains Community Café to mark the events of 1945 as experienced in our local area.

They started with a trip to Wintershill Hall in Durley, where they met the owner, Colonel Balfour, who told them the moving story of “the Southampton Boys” — 150 boys (and girls!) who were brought to the hall after surviving the horrors of various concentration camps during World War II. Their relatives still return to the hall to remember its role in helping their family members recover and go on to build new lives.

The club then made two visits to Sunnybanks Care Home. The first occasion was to talk to some of the residents about their memories of World War II. This was a fantastic opportunity to collect oral histories from people who experienced the war in a variety of ways around the UK. It was a lovely visit enjoyed by both the club members and the residents.

They were then invited back the following week for a talk on “The Secret Spitfires,” which detailed the creation of a secret “cottage industry” of Spitfire production set up in local towns during the war.

On VE80 Day, they set up a display in the Fountains Community Café, showcasing all the memories and stories they had collected about the end of the war. They shared the Spitfire and Wintershill stories and added photographs and memories collected from Sunnybanks residents and their families. These included the barrage balloons sent up in Eastleigh during air raids, the large camp of Polish refugees established in Chandler’s Ford, sharing North End School (where Thornden now stands) with children evacuated from bombed-out schools in Gosport, being conscripted as a Bevan Boy, and the celebration parties when VE Day was declared.

All the members can be very proud of what they achieved. It was a terrific project for the club and one they will not forget — they now carry with them the memories that defined a world conflict and its end.

Twynams Charities

We are very grateful to a local charitable trust from which we have received donations to support the work of our pastoral and family support team. Twynams Charity is a long-established organisation that specifically helps people in our immediate area. We have used some of these funds in the past to support families and students with specific needs during times of financial hardship.

Thank you, Twynams, for your continued support. If you have links to an organisation in Bishopstoke, Fair Oak, or Horton Heath and wish to submit an application for funding, please email twynamscharities@gmail.com.

Solo Heroes

Teddy in Year 8 took part in a charity penalty shootout at St Mary’s with legends Matt Le Tissier and Joe Tessem. Teddy and four of his teammates at AFC Lakeside raised a record-breaking £395.00 for Youth Options — well done, Teddy!
Meanwhile, Ollie in Year 7 completed the Inflatable 5K and raised £230 for the Marine Conservation Society. He did brilliantly and had great fun doing it — excellent effort, Ollie!

Deodorants for Basics Bank

Eastleigh Basics Bank made an appeal to local schools for deodorants to help tackle hygiene poverty. Thanks to all the students and staff who supported this cause — and added valuable points to their house totals in the process!

Care Packages

Our Year 10 citizenship students wanted to provide care packages for vulnerable local families. In consultation with our pastoral team, they drew up a list of food and hygiene items they wanted to include in each package. They then ran a number of fundraising activities to raise the money they needed.

Working with our finance team, they ordered the contents and packed the care packages for distribution — fantastic community spirit in action.

Break Time Sales

We have had lots of fundraising sales at break times, with a wonderful array of homemade cakes and other gifts on sale. Among the beneficiaries were Blue Cross, Save the Bees, the Year 11 Prom, and Family Care Packages. Well done to all involved!

Year 7 Big Blue Cross Fundraiser

Our youngest students set about raising money for the Blue Cross charity, which provides animal shelters, including one nearby in Hedge End. They held various events, such as bake sales, pick-and-mix bag sales, a Buy-a-Square raffle, and an Easter egg tombola. Some students also took on individual fundraising challenges. Altogether, they raised a wonderful £676 — amazing work!

Bereavement Friendship Group

Our Bereavement Friendship Group continues to support students who have experienced the loss of family or friends. This year, we were delighted that Wyvern was awarded the Simon Says Champion School award. Simon Says commented:

“We’ve been so impressed with how thoughtfully you’ve worked through every aspect of the programme, and it’s clear that many students are benefitting from the incredible support offered through your bereavement groups.”

Forty-seven students attended their year group sessions this summer. This term’s theme was about helping students consider their futures without their loved ones. Students created time capsules (with the help of Mrs Babington!), with resources to take away and add to their capsules. There were also opportunities to chat and play board games.

Congratulations to Miss Gott for her hard work in organising everything, and to Mrs Babington for crafting all the time capsules and decorations by hand — with help from our team of student librarians.

Thanks from Revitalise

We were delighted to hear from our local Revitalise charity shop in Fair Oak Square, who shared lovely feedback about Wyvern students:

“All the Wyvern students who visit us are very well-behaved, friendly, and polite — a credit to the school. We couldn’t sing their praises high enough.”
Many of the volunteers have family links to the school and spoke warmly about our students. They very kindly donated £15 worth of craft equipment to help support craft activities for students during break times.

A huge thank you to the Revitalise team for their generosity. If anyone is looking for craft supplies, please do visit their excellent crafts section!

Performance@Wyvern

Wyvern Rocks!

At the very beginning of July, the first Wyvern Rocks event took place after school on Friday, 4th July. This was a fantastic showcase of the considerable talents of the Wyvern Rock Club — formed only two years ago and already so accomplished.

Musicians from all year groups took to the stage to perform a wide range of rock classics, from Black Sabbath to Rammstein. It was loud, it was heavy, and it was very cool!

Kudos too to our terrific technical team, who did a great job, as ever, keeping those levels up to 11, and to Mr Newton, Mr Mayle, and Mr Lewis for their brilliant leadership. We hope to see this become a regular feature in the college repertoire.

Showcase Evenings

Towards the end of term, we held two evenings giving our students the chance to show their parents the results of their hard work, both during and after lessons.

The Drama and Dance Club Showcase and our Year 9 GCSE Drama Performance were both very well received and served as a reminder of the incredible depth of talent we have in the performing arts at Wyvern.

Summer Concert

We ended the year with our traditional Summer Concert, where the considerable collective talents of our musicians were on full display — supported by some brilliant comedy sketches from the Drama Club.

We enjoyed fantastic sets from the Rock Club, Groove Band, and Year 11 Band. Our instrumental performances featured the Flute Ensemble, String Ensemble, and Concert Band, while the College Choir and, sadly for the last time, the Wyvern Community Choir lent their voices to the evening.

On a beautiful summer’s evening, our audience enjoyed refreshments courtesy of the Friends of Wyvern, along with acoustic performances in the Quad. A lovely addition this year was an art exhibition, organised by Mrs Brock, our Art Curriculum Leader, showcasing the talented visual artists we have across the college.

The concert programme ranged from Holst, through Les Misérables, Don McLean, Deep Purple, all the way to Coldplay and Self Esteem — a real range with something for everyone.

Miss Woods, our Head or Arts at Wyvern added "A huge congratulations and thank you to all students who took part in our music events at the end of the  term- Wyvern Rocks, and the Summer Concert were both spectacular and a wonderful way to end the school year. Such a range of talent and styles of music- Deep Purple to the Planet Suite, and everything in between! Standout performances from Groove Band- Club Tropicana and Blues Brothers Medley, Wyvern Choir- Vincent/ Starry Starry Night featuring Lauren on solo flute, Concert Band- Wicked Medley and Triumphs conducted by Year 10 student Adam, and Year 10/11 Rock band performing ‘Plug in Baby’ by Muse with Kim on lead vocals. The evening ended with a wonderful performance bringing together our Wyvern and Community Choir singers, and Year 11 Rock Club, performing ‘Sky full of Stars’ by Coldplay. A magical evening and we look forward to another fantastic year of music- making with our ensembles and choirs this year."

Wyvern Out & About

We had a wide variety of trips taking place this term — here is a round-up of just a selection.

WW1 Battlefields

Between Wednesday 9th and Friday 11th July, 80 Wyvern students travelled to the WW1 battlefields of Ypres and the Somme, led by our guides John and Ed. This is a trip we’ve run for many years, giving students the opportunity to immerse themselves in the experiences of soldiers, to reflect and pay respects, and to experience travelling abroad with their friends.

We had a full itinerary. Day 1 included visiting the German trenches of Bayernwald before attending the Menin Gate for the Last Post ceremony, which our students observed impeccably.

Day 2 took us to the Sunken Lane, the site where the 1st Lancashire Fusiliers went “over the top” on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. From there, we explored how soldiers were treated, and how medicine advanced because of the war. We also visited Lochnagar Crater, Ulster Tower, and Newfoundland Park, before paying our respects at the famous Thiepval Memorial to the Missing — commemorating over 72,000 servicemen from the Somme with no known grave.

Day 3 included Langemark German Cemetery, allowing students to reflect on how remembrance differs between nations. Afterwards, we visited the Passchendaele Memorial Museum before concluding with an opportunity for reflection at Tyne Cot Memorial. Finally, we enjoyed a spot of chocolate shopping before making our way back via Calais.

In all my years of taking students on residential trips abroad, this was one of the very best groups I’ve had the privilege of accompanying. They were respectful, inquisitive, and great fun too.

A message from our tour guide, John Raynor, to Headteacher Mr Rule:
“As a battlefield guide, I have taken many trips around France and Belgium and I must say one of the most enjoyable has been with your school. Your students were amazing. They behaved brilliantly and represented the school in a very positive manner. They showed considerable interest in the stories I shared, asked and answered a variety of questions, and participated in two acts of remembrance with great respect. Despite our late return, there was not a single complaint. The students represent all that is good about the youth of today.

Your school is also extremely fortunate to have such quality staff, led by Tom. They were brilliant, had the complete respect of the students, and were flexible with the itinerary, making the tour an absolute dream to guide. Although I have retired, it would have been a pleasure to work in the school's History Department.

I wish your students and staff every success, a well-deserved rest over summer, and a great start to the new academic year.

What a privilege to work with a school like yours.

— John Raynor (Guide)”

Geography — Swanage and Portsmouth

Our Year 10 students visited Swanage Bay to complete coastal fieldwork, as part of the physical geography requirement for our AQA syllabus. They carried out surveys and data collection along this stretch of the Jurassic Coast.

Our Year 9 students visited Portsmouth where they investigated urban issues, such as quality of life and land use comparisons. The trip included a visit to the Spinnaker Tower for a birds-eye view of the city, and a visit to Portsmouth University to attend a lecture.

The aims for both trips were to gather relevant GCSE coursework data, learn about and enjoy our coastal landscapes, and work safely throughout.

Black Country Museum

The always popular History visit to the Black Country Museum near Dudley helped Year 7 students develop their understanding of life in Britain during the Industrial Revolution, part of their Key Stage 3 History curriculum.

The living museum recreates life in the industrial heart of Britain during this transformative time. It features preserved shops, houses, and workshops, with costumed demonstrators bringing history to life. Students visited the underground mine, attended a Victorian classroom lesson, and enjoyed a canal boat trip along the Dudley Canal into the limestone caverns.

College Taster Days

Our Year 10 students had the opportunity to experience life at local post-16 colleges by attending taster days at Itchen College, Barton Peveril College, and Peter Symonds College, accompanied by our Careers Officer, Mrs Gough.

They also took part in mock job interviews, thanks to a group of fantastic volunteers who visited the college to act as interviewers. We hope these experiences have helped students start thinking about their next steps after Wyvern.

SACRE Youth Voice

Five schools attended a SACRE Youth Voice event in Winchester. The morning workshops were delivered by PeaceJam, focusing on local and global issues. Students also took part in a session with The Final Straw Foundation, learning about microplastics (particularly nurdles) and their environmental impact, with specific case studies from the River Hamble.

In the afternoon, students developed and posed questions to a panel of religious leaders, which included a Zen Buddhist, a Catholic, a Jew, a Muslim, and a Humanist. Wyvern students interviewed the Buddhist and the Jewish representative. During the Judaism session, students experienced a Shabbat service and asked questions about day-to-day life following the Mitzvot.

Students also had the opportunity to meet local councillors, SACRE members, and the various religious representatives. This was the first time the event was held, and we hope our students will be able to enjoy this enriching experience annually.

House Games & Sports Day

This academic year marked an exciting new chapter for our school with the introduction of the House system — and what a year it has been! With the launch of five houses — Phoenix, Gryphon, Hippogriff, Centaur, and Dragon — students and staff alike have embraced this fresh initiative with energy, pride, and an impressive spirit of unity.

From day one, the house system has brought colour and character to school life. One of the most visible changes has been the stunning new artwork installed around the school, proudly representing each house’s mythical creature. These visual transformations have helped foster a strong sense of belonging and identity.

Assemblies have taken on a new life too. With more interactive formats, they have become spaces not just for information, but for celebration, creativity, and shared achievement. From gigantic beach balls to rows of football socks, each assembly has involved lots of laughter — and usually plenty of singing as well!

Team competitions have seen a noticeable increase in participation, with students from all year groups joining forces to compete in a range of activities — from house games to space hopper races, creative challenges to community efforts such as the food bank and deodorant drives. The buzz around house points and friendly rivalry has created a positive momentum that continues to grow.

Most importantly, the house system has placed a renewed focus on praise, positivity, and fun. Whether it’s cheering on teammates, earning house points for kindness or effort, or simply enjoying the camaraderie of being part of something bigger, students have discovered new ways to shine and to support each other.

Sports Day also took on a new format this year. In addition to the traditional races and jumps, all students took part in a number of house competitions: a space hopper relay race, a water cup challenge, a paper aeroplane contest, and a tower-building competition. With a huge number of house points up for grabs, students rose to the challenge to try and win enough points to push their house into the lead.

Sports Day concluded with the awarding of the House Cup to Centaur, who achieved the incredible total of 170,925 house points over the year! The cup will be dressed in yellow ribbons throughout the next academic year to celebrate this achievement.

The success of this first year is a testament to our students' enthusiasm and the commitment of staff to making the house system more than just a structure — it’s becoming the beating heart of our school culture. Here’s to even greater achievements, friendly competition, and house spirit in the years to come!

Friends of Wyvern

It’s been another fantastic year for Friends of Wyvern, and we want to say a huge thank you to all parents, carers, students, and staff who have supported our work throughout the year.

Thanks to your generosity and involvement, we’ve made real progress on our fundraising priorities. This year we’ve raised thousands of pounds towards key projects, including our Seating and Canopies Project, which will provide much-needed outdoor spaces for students to relax and socialise whatever the weather. We’ve also helped the college purchase new food tech equipment, and music and drama resources, ensuring all students benefit from better facilities and opportunities.

Highlights this year include:

• Securing grants from Tesco Stronger Starts and other partners

• Relaunching our website (friendsofwyvern.org.uk) with an easy online donation system including Apple Pay

• Popular fundraising drives like Coppers for Canopies, second-hand uniform donations, and raffles

• Supporting college events, celebration evenings, and performances

Concept image of our Seating and Canopies project

We’re already planning for the year ahead. We’ll continue to raise funds for outdoor improvements and new resources across the school. Setting up a regular donation (even £2 a month) is one of the simplest ways you can support us, or you can get involved by volunteering your time. 

If you’d like to donate, volunteer, or find out more, please visit friendsofwyvern.org.uk or follow us on Facebook. Together, we can keep making Wyvern an even better place for all our young people.

We’d also like to give a special thank you to Lemon Cleaning for their generous sponsorship and continued support of Friends of Wyvern.

Thank you again for your fantastic support. We hope you have a wonderful summer!

— Friends of Wyvern Committee